first landing site workshop for the 2020 mars rover … international summer school on radar/sar...
TRANSCRIPT
March 2014
Mars Science News
As of 2014, we will have completed a remarkable and
unparalleled fifteen years of concentrated scientific exploration
of the Red Planet. This period includes eight successful missions
(1996 Mars Global Surveyor, 1996 Mars Pathfinder, 2001 Mars
Odyssey, 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers, 2003 Mars Express,
2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, 2007 Mars Phoenix, and
2011 Mars Science Laboratory), as well as telescopic
observations from Earth, studies of martian meteorites, and a
variety of numerical and laboratory modeling activities. Two
additional missions will be en-route to Mars at the time of the
conference (NASA’s 2013 MAVEN and ISRO’s 2013 Mars
Orbiter Mission), and several other missions are actively under
development for launch during the period 2016-2020. The
Eighth International Mars Conference will be an ideal time to
step back and summarize our current understanding of Mars,
to consolidate our primary paradigms for Martian processes
and history, and to refocus the primary scientific questions that
remain in front of us.
Eighth International Mars Conference July 14-18, 2014 at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
29th MEPAG meeting May 13-14 at the Crystal City Marriott in the Washington, DC area
There have been many developments in Mars exploration over the past year: Discoveries by Curiosity and other operating Mars
missions, the release of the AO and the receipt of instrument proposals for the 2020 Mars Rover, the launches of NASA’s MA-
VEN and ISRO’s MOM missions to Mars, the implications for Mars and Planetary Science of the passage of the FY14 budget and
release of the President’s proposed FY15 budget, and the developing vision of human exploration at Mars.
This meeting will report on the implications of these events as well as the overall status of Mars exploration. Further, there will
be a report from the ongoing MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group. The First Circular has been posted:
http://mepag.nasa.gov/meeting/2014-05/MEPAG_2014_May_1st_circ_V3_SMD_ASH.pdf.
We encourage Mars scientists from all scientific fields to plan
to attend. The first four days of the conference will consist of
morning and afternoon oral sessions organized around topical
themes, along with late afternoon poster sessions of broader
scope. The final day will consist of presentations and discussion
focused on the synthesis of the ideas presented.
The Second Announcement has been posted: http://
www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/8thmars2014/. Abstracts are due
April 24, 2014. In accordance with new conference guidelines
issued by NASA, the meeting will not charge a registration fee.
We will have the capability for on-site registration, but we
strongly encourage advance registration by June 13, 2014 —
we will base our final logistical preparations, including the
printing of conference materials, based on the count at that
point. This is a Domestic Heavily Attended Conferences
(DHAC), so those that need to forecast travel (via the NCTS/
JPL conference tools) should forecast soon.
First Landing Site Workshop for the 2020 Mars Rover Mission May 14-16 in the Washington, DC area (exact dates and venue TBC)
The purpose of the first 2020 Landing Site Workshop will be to: 1) begin to identify and evaluate potential landing sites best suit-
ed to achieving science objectives of the 2020 Rover Mission within the constraints imposed by engineering requirements, plane-
tary protection requirements, and the necessity of ensuring a safe landing; and 2) provide input to NASA and the 2020 Project at
JPL on the relative importance of including any enhanced EDL capabilities on the mission. For more information and for registra-
tion, see: http://marsnext.jpl.nasa.gov/.
SHARAD/MARSIS Data Users' Workshop 3-7pm March 16, 2014 in the Montgomery Ballroom A at The Woodlands conference center, The Woodlands, TX
This workshop will provide an introduction to the radar sounding data from the SHARAD instrument on MRO and the MARSIS
instrument on Mars Express. There is no registration fee; however, attendees are required to register at the Workshop website:
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/sharad_marsis/
User Workshop for Mars ChemCam/LIBS Data 3-6pm March 16, 2014 in the Alden Bridge Room of The Woodlands conference center, The Woodlands, TX
ChemCam on Curiosity provides a large and varied geochemical dataset available for the planetary community including laser-
induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), passive VIS reflectance spectra, and the highest resolution remote micro-images (RMI)
from the rover. More than 8 GB of data are available at the Planetary Data System node (http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/
missions/msl/chemcam.htm) including compositions from > 2500 locations along the rover traverse and > 1500 RMI images.
Already > 25 submitted papers have included results from this data.
A 3-hour workshop will be held for community members interested in using this dataset at 3 pm on Sunday, March 16, in the
Alden Bridge Room of The Woodlands conference center, in conjunction with the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. In
the workshop we will describe the LIBS technique as used on ChemCam and data processing for the levels 1 and 2 provided in
the PDS. We will also provide a couple of tools to help understand and use the spectra. Attendees are strongly encouraged to
RSVP at http://msl-chemcam.com. The contact is Roger Wiens ([email protected]). Presentation materials will also be posted on
the PDS.
Student Travel Grants available for upcoming Mars meetings
Student travel grants are available for (1) the First Landing Site Workshop for the 2020 Mars Rover Mission (May 14-16 in the
Washington, DC area; due March 19) and (2) the 8th International Mars Conference (July 14-18, Pasadena, CA; due April 11).
These opportunities are open to undergraduate and graduate students with Mars-related research interests, who are US citizens
or legal residents. Information and the applications are posted on the MEPAG site::
http://mepag.nasa.gov/student.cfm?expand=student. Questions should be directed to Serina Diniega: [email protected].
Planning for Potential Mars Returned Sample Science:
Considerations Related to Sample Quality 8:30am-4pm March 16, 2014 in the Panther Creek Room at The Woodlands conference center, The Woodlands, TX
The science community needs to describe the desired and minimum acceptable state of the samples that would be needed to
achieve the scientific objectives of MSR. This is a key input into a). requirements formulation for the M-2020 rover, and b). for-
ward planning for the other potential flight and ground elements that would be associated with MSR. Scientists with experience in
any aspect of Mars-relevant sample studies are invited. Space is limited! Please RSVP to Carla De La Paz at [email protected],
Page 2 Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter March 2014
6th International Summer School on Radar/SAR Systems July 4-11, 2014 in Bonn, GERMANY.
Fraunhofer FHR, one of Europe's leading radar research institutes and has pioneered radar and SAR research and development
over the decades, is pleased to announce the 6th International Summer School on Radar/SAR, which will take place from 04-11 July
2014 in the picturesque Upper Middle Rhine region (Haus Humboldtstein). We cordially invite students, PhD candidates, post-docs
and anyone else eager to broaden and deepen their understanding of radar and SAR techniques to participate in our summer
school.
Internationally renowned experts from across Europe, USA and Canada make up the summer school lecture team. This is a unique
opportunity to gain an in-depth appreciation of modern radar and SAR systems whilst absorbing the multifarious atmosphere of
the famous Upper Middle Rhine region. Participation in the programme of social activities with the international group of attendees
will inspire and enrich your learning experience. Due to the kind sponsorship from Cassidian (an EADS company) we can offer the
summer school, inclusive full board and lodging, for only 600 Euro for students, 900 Euro for Ph.D. candidates, and 1200 Euro for
all others.
Fraunhofer FHR cordially invites appropriate candidates to visit our website: http://www.radarsummerschool.fraunhofer.de for
further information and to download the Application form. Specific queries regarding the summer school should be addressed to:
[email protected]. The application deadline is March 18, 2014.
2014 NASA Planetary Science Summer School Applications Open
NASA is accepting applications from science and engineering post-docs, recent PhDs, and doctoral students for its 26th Annual
Planetary Science Summer School, which will be held in three separate sessions in summer 2014 (June 16-20, July 14-18, and
August 11-15) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
During the program and pre-session webinars, student teams will carry out the equivalent of an early mission concept study,
prepare a proposal authorization review presentation, present it to a review board, and receive feedback. By the end of the
session, students will have a clearer understanding of the life cycle of a space mission; relationships between mission design, cost,
and schedule; and the tradeoffs necessary to stay within cost and schedule while preserving the quality of science. The 2014
sessions will address planetary exploration missions needing power system trade-offs, including the use of solar electric vs. Multi-
mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (MMRTG). The session in August will have a targeted focus on spacecraft
power systems.
Applications are due April 1, 2014. Partial financial support is available for a limited number of individuals. Further information is
available at http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov.
Humans to Mars Summit
Co-sponsored by Explore Mars, the George Washington University, and the Space Policy Institute at GW, the Humans to Mars
Summit (H2M) will be held on April 22-24, 2014 at George Washington University in Washington, DC. H2M will be a
comprehensive Mars exploration conference to address the major technical, scientific, and policy related challenges that need to
be overcome to send humans to Mars by 2030. Topics will include Mars mission architecture and challenges, science goals,
planetary protection, International cooperation, Mars and STEM education, space and US competitiveness, ISRU, and many other
topics.
Some of the tentative speakers already include Charles Bolden, William Gerstenmaier, James Garvin, James Greene, Doug
McCuistion, Penelope Boston, Sam Scimemi, Mike Raftery, Marc Kaufman, Buzz Aldrin, Joel Levine, Miles O'Brien, Rebecca
Keiser, and many more.
Register today at h2m2014.exploremars.org
Page 3 Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter March 2014
Photogrammetric Processing of Planetary Stereo Imagery
using SOCET SET® April 29-May 1, 2014 at the Astrogeology Science Center of the USGS, Flagstaff, AZ.
The Planetary Photogrammetry Guest Facility at the Astrogeology Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey would like to an-
nounce a Call for Participation for a training opportunity on April 29 - May 1, 2014, on Photogrammetric Processing of Planetary
Stereo Imagery using SOCET SET®. The training is free to participants, and will cover end-to-end, hands-on photogrammet-
ric procedures for surface extraction from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRISE image pairs. The topics include
An introduction to photogrammetric procedures and surface generation techniques;
Overview of HiRISE imagery; and
Workflow and data exchange between ISIS and SOCET SET.
The hands-on training will include ISIS preprocessing, SOCET SET import of image and reference data, control point selection, ori-
entation procedures, triangulation and bundle adjustment, manual and automated surface extraction of digital terrain models
(DTM), editing, and data export.
If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please send an email to Dr. Raad Saleh
([email protected]) with the following specific information: your name, title, affiliation, address, full contact in-
formation, and a short statement describing your interest in the training. Please note that seating for this session is very limited, so
please express your interest as soon as possible.
Please note the following:
1. Training will be 3 days, from Tuesday through Thursday, April 29 - May 1, 2014.
2. The training will be based exclusively on a standard set of HiRISE stereo images.
3. ISIS, SOCET SET and the Guest Facility support the use of images from several planetary cameras in addition to HiRISE. While
this hands-on training will be based on HiRISE images, it would be our pleasure to advise participants on the suitability of other
planetary cameras for their research projects. Furthermore, we can provide one-on-one support to producing DTMs at later
days.
4. The Guest Facility has a single workstation available year-round for users who need to generate their own products. If you
would like to stay longer (after this training) or come at a later date to generate your own products using the Guest Facility, please
let us know the kind of images you would be using and how many DTMs you hope to produce so that we can schedule your visit
accordingly.
5. For more information about the Guest Facility, and for Frequently Asked Questions, please visit: http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/
geology/photogrammetry-guest-facility. Go to Downloads at the bottom of the page and follow the link "Planetary Photogramme-
try Guest Facility FAQ".
6. If you are interested in ISIS training, please see: http://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/IsisWorkshop/index.php/IsisWorkshop
With your participation, we look forward to realizing another successful and productive training session. In the meantime, please
do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or require further information.
Thank you
Contact: Dr. Raad Saleh [email protected]
Training Coordinator, The Planetary Photogrammetry Guest Facility
United States Geological Survey
Page 4 Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter March 2014
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops
Due Project
March 13th, 2014 Workshop on Planetary Volcanism Abstract Deadline
March 14th, 2014 Clay Minerals Society Meeting Abstract Deadline
48th ESLAB Symposium: New Insights to Volcanism Across the Solar System Abstract Deadline
March 20th, 2014 1st Exomars 2018 Landing Site Selection Workshop Registration Deadline
March 28th, 2014 Habitable Worlds Across Time and Space Registration Deadline
March 31st, 2014 Biosignatures Across Space and Time Abstract and Registration Deadline
Humans to Mars Summit Registration Deadline
April 1st, 2014 Annual Planetary Science Summer School Application Deadline for all sessions
April 4th, 2014 Clay Minerals Society Meeting Early Registration Deadline
April 15th, 2014 48th ESLAB Symposium: New Insights to Volcanism Across the Solar System Early Registration Deadline
Eighth International Conference on Aeolian Research (ICAR VIII) Abstract and Early Registration Deadline
April 18th, 2014 Venus Exploration Targets Workshop Early Registration Deadline
April 24th, 2014 8th International Conference on Mars Abstract Deadline
April 30th, 2014 ISC 2014 Sedimentology at the Crossroads of New Frontiers Abstract Deadline
May 6th, 2014 European Planetary Science Congress Abstract Deadline
May 7th, 2014 6th Alfven Conference: Plasma interaction with solar system objects: anticipating Rosetta, Maven and
Mars Orbiter Mission Abstract and Early Registration Deadline
May 17th, 2014 40th COSPAR 2014 and Associated Events Early Registration Deadline
May 27th, 2014 Workshop on Planetary Volcanism Registration Deadline
Near-term Due Dates (next three months)
First Quarter, 2014
March 1-8, 2014
Big Sky, MT, USA
IEEE Aerospace Conference
http://www.aeroconf.org/
March 16, 2014
The Woodlands, TX, USA
SHARAD/MARSIS Data Users’ Workshop
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/sharad_marsis/
New! March 16, 2014
The Woodlands, TX, USA
Planning for Potential Mars Returned Sample Science: Considerations Related to
Sample Quality
RSVP to Carla De La Paz at [email protected].
March 16, 2014
The Woodlands, TX, USA
User Workshop for Mars ChemCam/LIBS Data
Attendees are strongly encouraged to RSVP at http://msl-chemcam.com.
March 17-21, 2014
Woodlands, TX, USA
45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2014/
March 26-28, 2014
ESAC, Madrid, SPAIN 1st Exomars 2018 Landing Site Selection Workshop
Page 5 Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter March 2014
Third Quarter, 2014
July 6-11, 2014
Nara, JAPAN
ORIGINS 2014
http://www.origin-life.gr.jp/origins2014/index.html
July 7-11, 2014
London, UK
6th Alfven Conference: Plasma interaction with solar system objects: anticipating
Rosetta, Maven and Mars Orbiter Mission
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/planetary-science/alfven-conference
July 14-18, 2014
Pasadena, CA, USA
8th International Conference on Mars
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/8thmars2014/
July 14-18, 2014
Pasadena, CA
USA
Annual Planetary Science Summer School, Session II
http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov
July 21-25, 2014
Lanzhou, CHINA
Eighth International Conference on Aeolian Research (ICAR VIII)
http://www.2014icar8.com, Special session - Extra-terrestrial Aeolian research
Second Quarter, 2014
April 22-24, 2014
Washington, DC USA
Humans to Mars Summit
h2m2014.exploremars.org
April 28-May 1, 2014
Baltimore, MD, USA
Habitable Worlds Across time and Space
http://www.stsci.edu/institute/conference/habitable-worlds
May 13-14, 2014
Washington, DC USA
Mars Exploration Analysis Group (MEPAG) Meeting
http://mepag.nasa.gov/meetings.cfm
NEW! May 17-21, 2014
College Station, TX, USA
Clay Minerals Society Meeting
https://cms2014.tamu.edu/., Special Session - Martian Clays
May 19-21, 2014
Houston, TX, USA
Venus Exploration Targets Workshop
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/venus2014/
May 20-22, 2014
Bergen, NORWAY
Biosignatures Across Space and Time
http://www.nordicastrobiology.net/Biosignatures2014/
May 26-31, 2014
Nice, FRANCE
International interdisciplinary workshop on: Accretion and early differentiation of
the terrestrial planets
http://www.accrete.uni-bayreuth.de/?page=workshops
NEW! May 28-30, 2014
Houston, TX, USA
Workshop on Planetary Volcanism
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/volcanism2014/
June 16-21, 2014
Noordwijk,
NETHERLANDS
48th ESLAB Symposium: New Insights to Volcanism Across the Solar System
http://congrexprojects.com/2014-events/48-ESLAB/
June 16-20, 2014
Pasadena, CA
USA
Annual Planetary Science Summer School, Session I
http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov
Page 6 Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter March 2014
Third Quarter, 2014
August 2-10, 2014
Moscow, RUSSIA
40th COSPAR 2014 and Associated Events
http://www.cospar-assembly.org/
August 11-15, 2014
Pasadena, CA
USA
Annual Planetary Science Summer School, Session III
http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov
New! August 18-22, 2014
Geneva, SWITZERLAND
ISC 2014 Sedimentology at the Crossroads of New Frontiers
http://www.sedimentologists.org/meetings/isc, Session 038 - Extraterrestrial Sedimentol-
ogy
New! September 7-12, 2014
Centro de Congressos do
Estoril, Cascais,
PORTUGAL
European Planetary Science Congress
http://www.epsc2014.eu/
September 22, 2014 MAVEN Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI)
September 24, 2014 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) Mars
Orbit Insertion
Fourth Quarter, 2014
October 13-16, 2014
Edinburgh, Scotland
EANA 2014 - The 14th European Astrobiology Conference
http://www.astrobiology.ac.uk/eana2014/
October 19-22, 2014
Vancouver, British Colum-
bia, CANADA
Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2014/, Special Session - MicroMars to MegaMars: Integration
of Surface and Orbital Investigations
October 19, 2014 Comet Siding Spring closest approach to Mars
November 4-7, 2014
Greenbelt, MD, USA
International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2014)
http://ssed.gsfc.nasa.gov/IPM/
New! November 9-14, 2014
Tucson, AZ, USA
46th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society Division of Planetary Sciences
(DPS 2014)
http://aas.org/meetings/dps46
December 15-19, 2014
San Francisco, CA, USA
AGU Fall Meeting
2015
March 2015 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
November 1-4, 2015
Baltimore, MD, USA
Geological Society of America Annual Meeting
Page 7 Mars Exploration Science Monthly Newsletter March 2014
Page 8
March 2014
Special holidays to consider when scheduling conferences/workshops/meetings:
Good Friday 4/18/2014 4/3/2015 4/6/2016 4/14/2017
Rosh Hashanah 9/25/2014 9/14/2015 9/16/2016 9/20/2017
Yom Kippur 10/4/2014 9/23/2015 9/25/2016 9/29/2017
(Note that Jewish holidays start at sundown the previous evening)
Thanksgiving Day, U.S. 11/27/2014 11/26/2015 11/22/2016 11/23/2017
Thanksgiving Day, Canada 10/13/2014 10/12/2015 10/8/2016 10/9/2017
Christmas Day 12/25/2014 12/25/2015 12/25/2016 12/25/2017
Please send your Mars Community Announcements
and calendar items for inclusion in next month’s
email to:
Carla de la Paz at [email protected], 818-354-3160.
All announcements listed in this newsletter will be
posted on the MEPAG website, available at:
http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov
Editors
Carla de la Paz [email protected] 818-354-3160
Serina Diniega [email protected] 818-393-1487
Amy Hale [email protected] 818-393-1186
David Beaty [email protected] 818-354-7968
2016
January 7, 2016 20-Day ExoMars Launch Period Opens
March 8, 2016 20-Day Insight Launch Window Opens
September 20, 2016 Insight Arrival at Mars
October 16, 2016 ExoMars Arrival at Mars